Long post alert.
Recently, I was reading from https://lifestylebymo.com/ post titled is honeymoon compulsory? Of course, it is not compulsory but VERY NECESSARY for newlyweds, ‘olderlyweds’ and even soon-to-be-weds to get outside their normal habitats in order for them to be fully devoted to one another for a period of time. Bible even commanded one-year honeymoon packages for new couples 😂 😂 😂.
We always thought romantic getaways must be in an exotic and expensive places in or outside the country but here I present to you budget-smilling and one-of-its-kind 10 romantic places/valentines getaways in Nigeria with affordable food and hotels for your honeymoon, wedding anniversary, wedding, excursions and dates. Are you ready? Have you packed your bag (with all travel essentials)? Now, let’s move:
#1. OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK
Old Oyo National Park is one of the national parks in Nigeria located across Northern Oyo state (15 LGAs) and Southern Kwara state (1 LGA) covering 2,512 km2. It’s the site of Old Oyo empire.
Attraction points:
- old Alaafin’s palacepalace and city wall.
- Yemoso, Gbogun and Kosomoun HillsHills.
-dye pits.
exotic and endagered species of plants and animals like buffalo, duiker, antelope and kob , Ikere Gorge dam, etc.
You can enjoy full undiluted Yoruba culture, sport fishing, boat cruising, bird sighting, picknicing among others.
The park is open everyday from 8am – 6pm but you have to book at their Administrative HQs in Oyo town, Oyo state (09064941163).
#2. ERIN-JESHA WATERFALL:
If you adventurous, Erin-Jesha Waterfall located in Erin-Jesha, Osun state is bae. The waterfall is perhaps the most popular tourists’ center in South West Nigeria measuring 10.3km in lenght. The waterfall is said to have medicinal properties.
Attraction points:
-seven floor of rock,
-ancient gourd,
-ereke
– erin hills.
You can do water-game, mountain climbing, swimming, etc. The place is open everyday for N500 gate fee without a tourguide and extra N500 for taking pictures. Get to Osogbo the state capital from there you will get a bus going to Erin-Jesha. The popular musical hits of Õrente and Oluwa mon ti ose by Adekunle Gold and Baba Sala’s daughter respectively were shot here.
#3. OGBOMOSO – THE LAND OF VALIANTS
Away from the hustling and bubling life of urban cities lie an ancient and quiet city of Ogbomoso in Oyo state. After your wedding or to get away from urban ‘noise,’ the town could be a homhome-away-from-home for the main time or even permanently (we have abundant farmlands at shikena prices).
Attraction points:
- LAUTECH Botanical Gardens Campus.
- 3rd Primary School in Nigeria, Osupa Baptist Day School.
- Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, the first degree awarding institution in the country.
- Nearness to Ilorin International Airport (30 min’ drive).
- Mounments of early Baptist Missionaries.
- 400 years old Ajagbon tree.
- Nearness to old oyo national park.
- Feel of a Yoruba culture, language and food especially Amala and gbégiri/abula). I can serve as your tourguide through 08135446603.
#4. IGBETI MOUNTAIN RANGES
Do you want to burn some fat while enjoying wonderments of nature? Find your way with your partner to Igbeti town in Olorunsogo LG of Oyo state. The town is surrounded with mountains and has Ilorin to her east, Ogbomoso through old oyo national park to the south, Igboho and Saki to the west and old oyo national part to the north. The city is also known as Marble city and the coolest place in SW.
Attraction points:
- Iya Mapo Hill (covering 6kms and 50ft high).
- Bata Erugba (a drumlike rock).
There are even cheap hotels of 2 -3k here.
#4. ADO AWAYE SUSPENDED LAKE .
Water body on top of the mountain and the water has never dry? Yes, it is available at Ado awaye in Iseyin local government of Oyo state. Apart from the lake being sceneric with loads of wonderments, it’s one of the two available in the world.
Attraction points:
- Ese awon agba (footprints of elders)
– Ese kan aye, ese kan orun (between-life-and-death) chasm.
The lake is accessible by 200 steps with tour charges ranging from N200 – N500.
#5. IDANRE HILL
How sure are you that you are eligible for marriage? Do you think you are? Ok., let’s go to most beautiful natural landscape called Idanre hill in Ondo state to check. The hill has 663 steps with resting points in between to its summit.
Attraction points:
- Iraye (forgetfulness) tree.
- Arun river with live forest elephant and
- Aapon-o-gbe (bachelor cannot carry) stone (to check if a man is maritally eligible then). Ticket is N1000.
#6. IKOGOSI WARM SPRING
Ever think of two distinct streams sprutting hot water of about 70 degree and cool water respectively flowing side by side, later joined in their travels to give warm water and each maintaining its thermal properties? If you think, it’s impossible, then I wish to shock with the realisation that God has blessed us with such at Ikogosi, Ekiti state in a place called Ikogosi WarmSpring.
Attraction points:
- confluence of the two springs
The activities there include swimming, nightout, mountaineering, partying among other enjoyments. The attraction is located southwest of Akure, the state capital and N500 is the entrance fare.
#7. OSUN-OSHOGBO SACRED GROOVE
If you are a pastor (for integrity sake) or one of those Christians who believed Christians can be demon-possessed, stay clear. Well, for tourism sake, Osun-Osogbo Groove is the only surviving sacred groove in Yorubaland. The site is a large UNESCO-certified cultural landscape of undisturbed forest near the city of Osogbo, Osun state capital and play host to annual osun-osogbo festival in August.
Attraction points:
- 40 yoruba gods and goddesses’ shrines plus their figurines.
Entrance fee without camera is N200 And N500 for Nigerians and Non-Nigerians respectively. With phone camera 1k, photo camera 3k and a video camera 15k respectively.
#8. IITA FOREST CENTRE
Are you a lover of exotic and medicinal plants, birds and animals? Then you next bus-stop is IITA forest centre, IITA HQS, Ibadan. The centre is mainly established for conservation,research and educational purposes.
Attraction points:
- ethnobotanical garden housing 13 plants of medicinal properties among Yorubas.
- 150 different exotic plants
- bird watching of over 270 different bird species.
- tree heritage park housing 350 species of endagered Nigerian trees.
Activities include forest schools through guided tours, outdoor class, camping, walk around lakes, etc. Gate fee is FREE. Web: http://forestcenter.iita.org
#10. Owu Waterfalls
Owu Waterfall is a waterfall located in Owa Kajola in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. It’s the highest waterfall in West Africa measuring 120m above the water level and cascades 330 feet down an escarpment, with rocky out crops to a pool of ice-cold water below.
Multitalented. I can talk, annoy and irritate you all at the same time. It takes real dedication to pull this off. On a real though, talent is like electricity. We don’t understand electricity but we use it all the same. Isn’t it curious that we all have that one friend that finds a way of making everything innocent perverted? Yes you, I’m talking to you!
Courtship Forum 